# NTSB CEN15LA411: Brown Mark Space Walker, N43904, Cahokia, IL, September 9, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 2015, 14:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Cahokia, IL - Coordinates: 38.572776, -90.162498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5728&lon=-90.1625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 17, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 91970 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA411 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91970/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91970 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA411 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the attempted landing and the flight instructor's delayed attempt to execute a go-around, which resulted in a hard landing, failure of the left main landing gear, and subsequent loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident was an improperly welded landing gear tube. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Brown Mark SPACE WALKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056056T), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Brown Mark SPACE WALKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056056T), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Brown Mark SPACE WALKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=056056T), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Brown Mark SPACE WALKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056056T), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Brown Mark SPACE WALKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=056056T), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Brown Mark SPACE WALKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=056056T), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Brown Mark SPACE WALKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056056T), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Brown Mark SPACE WALKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=056056T), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Brown Mark SPACE WALKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056056T), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot and flight instructor were conducting a familiarization flight in the tailwheel-equipped, amateur-built airplane. After completing area maneuvers, the pilot executed two touch-and-go landings. The flight instructor reported that, during the third landing attempt, he noticed that the airplane had developed a high sink rate, so he subsequently took control of the airplane and initiated a go-around as the airplane touched down hard, which damaged the left main landing gear (MLG) and tailwheel attachment spring. The flight instructor was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway, which further damaged the left MLG. Examination of the left MLG revealed that it failed at the point of a previous weld repair, which was on the lower tube of a multitube group weld and was only partially welded. The improperly welded tube resulted in less-than-intended design strength and contributed to the failure of the left MLG. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 2015, at 1450 central daylight time, a Mark Brown Spacewalker amateur-built airplane, N43904, was substantially damaged during landing at the St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS), Cahokia, Illinois. The private pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight's purpose was to allow the front seat (private) pilot to become familiar with the handling characteristics of the tailwheel airplane. The front seat pilot had recently completed construction of an experimental amateur-built airplane of the same make/model and was preparing for his first test flight. After completing area maneuvers, the front seat pilot executed two touch-and-go landings. During the third landing attempt, the flight instructor noticed a high sink rate develop and attempted a go-around. The airplane touched down hard, which damaged left main landing gear and tailwheel attachment spring. The flight instructor was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane departed the left side of the runway, which further damaged the landing gear and empennage. Examination of the left main landing gear revealed a failure of a multi-tube group weld which had been previously repaired. Further examination revealed that the lower tube of the multi-tube group weld was only partially welded. Records of this repair were not available to the investigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43904](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43904), registered now, S/N SW200 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BROWN MARK SPACE WALKER (II) - Registry model: [Brown Mark SPACE WALKER](https://openairdocs.org/model/brown-mark-space-walker) (registry code 056056T) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: SW200 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 140 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Robert L McDaniel - Registered owner: Robert L McDaniel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 2015 - Departed: CPS, Cahokia, IL - Destination: CPS, Cahokia, IL - Airport: CPS, St Louis Downtown, runway 12R, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, sport pilot, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 28, 2013; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,181 total, 16 in this make and model, 4,962 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 160 total, 1 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KCPS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150909014489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150909014489A), Sep 9, 2015: Brown Mark SPACE WALKER, Cahokia, IL, Substantial damage. This was a local training flight for aircraft familiarization. The PIC in the back seat was providing instruction for the pilot in the front seat. The PIC… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91970. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Correspondence with Flight Instructor (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%20with%20Flight%20Instructor-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.